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Puerto Rico v Canada: Haber targets more momentum

With big challenges on the horizon, Canada continue to prepare by facing Puerto Rico in Bayamon on Monday.

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Written ByPeter Hanson

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Marcus Haber has called on Canada to build momentum in Monday's
friendly against Puerto Rico as Benito Floro's men continue
preparations for World Cup qualifying and the CONCACAF Gold
Cup.

Haber scored his second senior international goal when he headed
in Kyle Bekker's corner in last Friday's 1-0 victory over Guatemala
in Florida.

That result ended Canada's four-match winless run and followed
January's promising 1-1 draw against Iceland.

Canada face sterner challenges in the coming months with a World
Cup qualifying tie against British Virgin Islands or Dominica in
June, followed by the Gold Cup that starts in July.

And Haber is in optimistic mood ahead of those tests due to the
strength of Canada's squad.

"We're getting up to the real thing with the Gold Cup and World
Cup qualifiers so it's important we get some results and everyone's
happy for sure," Haber told the official website for Canada's
national team.

"This gives us confidence. We feel good as a team and we've got
good depth and players that can contribute all over the park and
the players that came off the bench [against Guatemala] gave us a
lift."

Team-mate David Edgar believes that Canada are continuing to
improve under experienced former Real Madrid coach Floro.

"But he's serious about what he does and it rubs off on us and
we just need to keep listening to him and learning from the
coaching staff I think we'll be fine."

Puerto Rico are ranked some 44 spots below Canada in the
official FIFA world rankings and have not won a match since
battering Saint Martin 9-0 in September 2012.

But head coach Carlos Avedissian believes the current crop are
capable of achieving big things.

"[It is] a young group with a lot of motivation," he said. "In
the group to play the Canadian team, 80 per cent of the team has
experience in Olympic tournaments."

The match also offers Puerto Rico the ideal opportunity to
prepare for their own World Cup qualifying tie against Grenada and
midfielder Alexis Rivera is eager for the team to test
themselves.

"We know we are facing a strong challenge," he said. "We know
that we can measure where we are at this time. It is important to
know where we are to continue working in view of qualifying for the
World Cup."